McDonald's Takes Heat For Not Airing Gay-Friendly Ad In U.S.

When McDonald’s recently began airing a TV spot in France that not only admitted the existence of homosexual men, but also that they eat at — and are welcome at — the fast food eateries, it received many plaudits from gay rights advocacy groups on this side of the pond. But now that bigwigs out of Oak Brook have made it clear the ad, or nothing like it, will air stateside anytime soon, the tide has turned against the golden arches.

Here’s how the McDonald’s exec, who is “lovin’ it,” just not in that way, stuck his foot in his mouth during an interview with the Chicago Tribune:

[A]t McDonald’s, there are core values we stand for and the world is getting much closer. So we have a lot of conversations. We’re going to make some mistakes at times. (We talk) about things that may have an implication in one part of the world and may be the cultural norm in another part of the world. And those are things that, yes, we’re going to learn from. But, you’re right, that commercial won’t show in the United States.

That statement didn’t sit well with this country’s largest LGBT business group, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, which represents around 1.4 million businesses in the U.S.

In response to McDonald’s openly stating that they will not be airing the ad, the Chamber has opted to cut ties with the world’s largest fast food chain:

We strongly believe that McDonald’s plan to distance itself from LGBT and other diverse business segments, coupled with the release of the French TV ad, is ill advised and counter to the spirit of good business and sound ethics. We sincerely hope that McDonald’s will reconsider its position and that the company will again show its support for LGBT people, our families and our businesses — not just where it is politically expedient, but around the globe.

Barring a significant change in policy on the part of McDonald’s, please consider this letter as official notice that the NGLCC will not accept future support or membership by McDonald’s or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, please note that we will answer any questions about this communication, the past relationship between our organizations or any other questions by members of the NGLCC, the media or other interested parties with nothing less than factual and accurate information based on our communications and experiences with McDonald’s and its representatives.

If you haven’t already, here is the original French TV spot for McDonald’s: